Convertible filing machine



June 1s, 1940. L. A. wma 21,294,840

CONVERTIBLE FILING' MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 19557` 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

L. A. WILKIE CONVERTIBLE FILING MACHINE June 18, 194@7 Filed Aug. 28, 1937 5' ShaeiSSheet 2 June 18, l llf l.. A. wlLKlE 2204984@ convERTIBLE FILING ummm Filed Aug. ,28, 195'? s sheets-sheet 3 Patented. June 18', 1940 EATENT OFFICE l 2,204,840 CONVERTIBLE -mJNG MACHINE Leighton A. Wilkie, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application August .28,

1937, Serial No. 161,366

In Great Britain April Z0, 1937 3 Claims.

This invention -relates to abrading machines and more particularly to hand machine tools adapted to be held in, or supported by, the hands of the operator during use.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved power operated filing machine that may be held in the hands oi the person using the same during the operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision ofy a new and improved endless, hand type, power driven iiling machine oi novel construction that is adapted to be held in the hand or hands of the operator while using the device.

A further object of the invention is the pro-'- vision of a new and improved hand power operated tool that may be readily converted into a power driven, upright, iiling machine.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of aA new and improved hand filing machine having a power unit mounted therein and the parts so constructed and arranged that the machine may be held normal to the work or may be canted or held at an angle thereto during thel operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention lslthe provision of a new and improved portable power filing machine' that is simple in construction, effective in operation, easily assembled, composed of relatively few moving parts, and that may be converted into an' upright filing machine that is simple in construction, effective in operation, easily assembled, composed of relatively few moving parts, and that may be converted into an upright iilingv machine that cannot be supported bythe hands of the operator.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following de-v scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings 'in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the device, with parts in section and parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; l Fig. 3 is a section on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. l; i

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the device as applied to an attachment for converting the apparatus into a conventional filing machine;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1--1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detailed view showingthe means for connecting the ille band;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 5 but (ci. zei-'16) showing a modified iormoi filing elements and backing member; and

Fig. 10 is a plan fragmentary view of adjacent ends of the ille elements showing one form of interlock.

It is common practice to employ upright stationary iiling machines in machineshop work but in such machines, it is necessary to bring the work to the machine for operating on the' same. The present invention seeks to provide a tool that is light enough and compact enough that it' may be moved to the work manually. The present invention is in the nature of a hand tool and is. adapted to be used as such.

Furthermore, in certain typesof work, or work on certain objects or articles, a manually portable filing device may be used to advantage while on others an upright stationary iiling lmachine is more desirable. The present invention provides tiling mechanism that may be readily converted from a portable hand toolto an upright iiling machine at the will ofthe operator and with the expenditure of a minimum of time and labor, as will presently appear.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character I0 designates generally the f illng tool or apparatus which comprises a frame or casing element IIV having, what for convenience of description will be termed, a top portion I2 and a pair of outwardly or downwardly extending arms l or arm portions I3 and Il. 'I'he form of the casing is approximately that of an inverted U,

having a laterally extending liange 8 about each end and across its top portion, see Figs. 3 and 4. The space I5 between the arms constitutes what may be termed the throatof the tool or apparatus.

A pair of alined pulleys I6 and I1 are mounted on suitable journals I8 and I9, see Fig. 2, which are rigidly connected to the arms I3 and I4.

A suitable file element carrier 2| is trained over the pulleys and has its lower run extending across, the opening or -space I5 for forming a working zone for the le elements. This carrier may be oi any exible construction and, in the form shown, is a metal band 2i to which the ille elements 22 are secured. The file elements are secured in any suitable manner as by means of bolts or rivets 23 which engage the central portion of the ille elements and suitable openings in the carrier 2|. In order that the carrier or band 2I may be opened so as to extend the same through a closed opening for inner ling, it is severed at one point as shown in Fig. 8 and one end `is provided with a keyhole slot 24 and the other The casing or frameis preferably, though not necessarily, open on one s ide as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so that access may be readily had to the operating mechanism and for removing the band. A detachable closuremay be provided if desired.

A suitable' backing member 26 for the working zone ofthe le elements is provided. Any suitable means may be provided for this purpose. In the form of the construction shown, this backing member is in the form of a straight bar 21 having a channel 28, Fig. 5, for receiving the band 2| and is deep enough to engage the inner portions of the sides 4of the file elements 22 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The bar 21 is provided with a counter channel 29 which is adapted to accommodate the heads of the rivets 23 which secure the iile elements to said band. Extending upwardly from each end portion of the bar 26 are 1attaching lugs 3| by means of which the bar is rigidly attached to the frame or casing |I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Suitable means areA provided for adjusting one or the other of the pulleys I6 and I1. In the form of the construction shown, 'what will be termed the outer pulley I6, Figs. 1 and 2, is so mounted that it may be adjusted. Any suitable construction may be used for this purpose. In the form of the construction shown, the journal I8 for the pulley I65is provided with a reduced portion 33- and this reduced portion extends through a slot 34 in the casing II and is secured to a sliding block 35 which in turn is mounted in a slideway formed by a flange 36 extending about the opening 34. 'I'he slide block 35 is provided with an outwardly extending iiange 31 at its forward end which has a screw threaded opening in which an adjusting screw 38 engages, as shown more clearly in Fig. l of the drawings. The head 39 of the screw engages in a slot 4I, Fig. 2, formed by lugs 42 and 43 on the side of the casing II which prevents longitudinal movement of the screw. It will th'us be seen that by rotating the screw, the block 35 may be moved to adjust the pulley I6 either inwardly or outwardly for loosening or tightening the le carrier or belt,

Appropriate mechanism is provided for operating the pulleys I6 and I1. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose, such as a motor, flexible shaft, or the like. In the form of the construction shown, an electric motor 44, mounted in the casing II above the pulleys I6 and I1 and adjacent to the inner end thereof, is employed for this purpose. As shown. the armature or shaft of the motor extends longitudinally of the frame and is provided with a worm 45, Fig. 3, which engages a gear 46 which in turn is rigidly secured to a gear 41. The gear 41, through a series of reducing gears 46, 45 and 50, operates the pulley I1 at a reduced speed.

The casing and operating mechanism are of such size and weight that the device may be held in the hands of the operator. Suitable means are provided for holding and "guiding the device while in operation. As shown, a detachable handle detachably connected to the power end of the device, lis employed for this purpose. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for detachably connectingthe handle to the casing. As shown, the handle is provided -with a dove-tailed groove 52, see Fig. 2, which is adapted to engage a. corresponding dove-tailed pro- 'l2 on the ille elements 13.

jection 53 on the casing. A spring-pressed latching bolt 54, extending through an opening in the handle attaching portion and engaging a corresponding opening 55 in the end of the casing Il, secures the handle in position. When it is desired'to remove the handle, it is only necessary to pull outwardly on the latch 54 and move the handle either upwardly or downwardly to disengage it from the dove-tailed projection 53. A ,handle member 56, rigidly secured to the frame and extending across the forward side thereof parallel therewith, is also provided for holding the tool, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the operation of the device, ,the operator grasps the handle 5| in his right hand and the handle 56 in his left and applies the filing device in the working zone to the work.

It is desirable that the device be so constructed that it may be readily converted into an upright filing machine. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In order to convert the device into an upright filing machine, a base 51 is provided which has, on its upper surface, extending longitudinally thereof, in a horizontal plane, a dove-tailed groove 53 of the shape and size of the groove 52in the handle member 5I and in attaching the tool to the base 51, the handle 5| is removed by first dlsengaging the pin 54 and sliding the handle from the tool, then turning the outer end of the tool upward and sliding the dove-tailed projection 53 in the groove 58 of the base until the pin 55, extending upwardly through an opening in the base and carried by a leaf spring 6I, attached to the base as at 62, engages the opening 55 in the end of the casing II.

The forward end o f the base 51 is provided with an upright 63 which has a table 64 adjustably mounted on a shaft 65 at the upper end thereof. The table 64 is provided with a sleeve 66 that is slidably mounted on the shaft 65 and is held in adjusted position by a set screw 61. 'I'he table is provided with a slot 66 through which the carrier and file elements are adapted to move. The table is of such a height that the working zone of the file elements extends above and below its upper surface, as shown more clearly in Fig, 6 of the drawings.

If desired, the backing member 26 and ille elements may be constructed as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. In this ligure, the backing member 65, which corresponds to the backing member 26 of Fig. 1, is provided with a groove 1I for receiving the band 2| and an inward projection Each of the file elements 13 is rabbeted at each side thereof to form the projection 12 for engaging in the groove 1| and also to form lateral extensions 14 and 15 which engage over and bear against the sides of flanges 16 of the backing member 63. The parts are so constructed thatthe backing member 63 is no wider than the file elements 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The backing member 661s provided with attaching tabs or ears the same as that already described. The backing member 65 may be substituted for the backing member 26 when desired simply by removing the :liolts or screws that hold the member 26 in posi- While the file band may be run in either direction as desired, by the proper motor or gearing, it is understood that when the tool is of the type that may be converted into an upright stationary machine the run of the belt across the working zone will be moving rearward when in operation 9,904,840 so -that when it is converted into a tiling mai chine of the stationary type, the belt at the working zone will be moving downward. Unless the motor is reversible, with the mechanism shown. the le belt of the tool at the working zone will be moving rearward, thus causing the tool to tend to move forward and it is held from moving forward by the operator. v

IIhe ille elements may be of any suitable form in cross section and their ends may interlock. In the form shown in Fig. l0, the adjacent ends of the ille elements have a V-shape interlock, that is, the forward end of one element may be provided with a V-shaped projection for interlocking with a corresponding recess in the rear end of the preceding element as shown more particularly in Fig. l0. As shown, the rear link 22 is provided with a V-shaped projection 1l which engages a corresponding recess 18 4for holding these ends inallnernent. The links may be of any desired length, as shown, they are substantially two inches in length but other lengths may be employed. Y

By omitting the cover from the casing or frame. free access may be had, the band for removing the same. Furthermore, the omission of this cover and the provision of the space i5 in the side of the casing permits the operator to cant the tool for iiling at an angle when desired.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that the construction and loperation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that minor changes in size, shape. proportion and de.

tails of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.A

I claim as my invention: l. A convertible iiling tool and filing machine comprising a frame, movable abrading means carried by said frame, power operated mechanism on said frame for operating said means, a supporting base, and means including one element of a dove-tail joint on one e'nd of said frame for attaching a handle thereto to form a hand tool or for attaching said frame' in an upright position to said base to form an abrading machine.

2. A convertible hand supported, power operated tiling tool and machine comprising a frame, movable filing mechanism on said frame, a motor on said frame for operating said mechanism, a handle, an interlocking connection comprising a dove-tail projection on said frame for attaching said handle to said tool, a base, means on said base for cooperating with said projection for securing said frame in upright vposition on said base, a table, and means for supporting the same above said base, said table havlnga slot through which said tiling mechanism is adapted to be moved by said motor.

3. A convertible hand supported power operated tool and filing machine comprising a frame, movable nling means on said frame, power operated mechanism for operating said iiling means, a base, and means on the inner end of said frame for detachably attachingl a handle to saidframe or for detachably connecting said frame to saidl base in an upright position for fo we o filing machine. 

